Tag: Goa medical news

National

Three Medical Residents from Healthway Hospitals Goa Shine at APICON 2026

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Panaji, February 2026: Three medical residents from Healthway Hospitals have brought laurels to Goa by securing fifth place in the APICON Quiz at the 81st Annual Conference of the Association of Physicians of India — APICON 2026 — held in Patna.


The residents — Dr Dhruv Bawania, Dr Ankit Nair and Dr Pritesh Vaishnav — are currently pursuing their DNB Medicine at Healthway Hospitals. Representing Goa, they competed against 48 teams from leading medical colleges across the country.

APICON is one of India’s largest national gatherings of physicians and internal medicine specialists, with nearly 10,000 delegates in attendance. The conference featured academic sessions, workshops and the highly competitive National Medical Quiz.

At the quiz, the Goa team secured a spot among the top finalists and clinched fifth position, following IPGMER & SSKM, Kolkata (1st), Madras Medical College & Stanley Medical College, Chennai (2nd), KMC Manipal (3rd) and NIMS Hyderabad (4th).

The efforts of Dr Dhruv Bawania and Dr Ankit Nair were particularly noteworthy as they were the only first-year DNB Medicine residents competing at the national level. The team was also applauded for being the only participants to correctly answer one of the most challenging questions in the quiz.

This achievement adds to the team’s consistent academic record. They were previously selected for the zonal round in Mumbai for the national quiz at IRACON 2025 and qualified for the semifinal round of the National Medical Quiz at the RSSDI Conference 2025.

The team was felicitated by Dr Kamlesh Tewary, President of APICON 2026 and former Dean of the Indian College of Physicians.

Speaking about the achievement, Dr Vijay Naik, Head of the Medicine Department at Healthway Hospitals, said the accomplishment marks a significant milestone for both the institution and the state, especially considering that the hospital’s DNB programme was established only three years ago.

Healthway Hospitals has been conducting the three-year DNB (Diplomate of National Board) Medicine programme, which awards a qualification equivalent to an MD in India. The national recognition of its residents has further strengthened Goa’s standing among the country’s established medical institutions.

Health

Goa Makes Healthcare History with India’s First Pricing Policy for Innovative Lifesaving Therapies

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Goa has set a new benchmark in healthcare innovation with the launch of the Pricing Policy for Innovative Lifesaving Therapies (PPILT) — a first-of-its-kind initiative in India.

The policy was officially launched by Health Minister Shri. Vishwajit Rane in the presence of:

  • Shri. Arun Kumar Mishra, IAS, Secretary (Health)
  • Mr. Prashant Warier, CEO & Founder, Qure.ai
  • Dr. Jai Prakash Tiwari, Dean, GMC
  • Dr. Rupa Naik, Director, Directorate of Health Services
  • Dr. Ajaykumar Sharma, Director – Corporate & State Affairs, AstraZeneca
  • Kiran Kesavan, Lead – Policy and Government Affairs

The PPILT aims to ensure equitable, fair, and sustainable pricing for vital healthcare interventions — including medicines, diagnostics, and advanced medical devices — making them more accessible to patients without compromising innovation.

Minister Rane emphasized that the initiative would bridge the gap between affordability and advanced treatment, setting a national precedent in healthcare reform.

This pioneering policy reflects Goa’s commitment to patient-centric healthcare and positions the state as a leader in shaping transparent, sustainable medical pricing in India.

Health

Interventional Radiologist at Manipal Hospital Treats Rare Giant Prostate Cases Without Surgery Using Advanced Minimally Invasive Technique

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Goa, June 13, 2025: In a significant breakthrough in the management of prostate disorders, Dr. Charudutt Sambhaji, Senior Vascular and Interventional Radiologist at Manipal Hospital, Goa, has successfully treated two patients suffering from giant prostatic hyperplasia (GPH) using a minimally invasive, non-surgical technique known as Prostatic Artery Embolization (PAE).

A normal prostate weighs less than 20 grams and is about the size of a walnut. In contrast, giant prostatic hyperplasia is a rare and extreme form of benign prostate enlargement where the gland can grow beyond 200 grams, severely affecting urinary function and quality of life.

Traditionally, such large prostates require open or robotic surgery or Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP), which are associated with risks such as bleeding, urinary incontinence, retrograde ejaculation, and extended recovery time, particularly problematic in elderly or medically unfit patients.

Dr. Charudutt Sambhaji, who brings over 21 years of experience in vascular and interventional radiology, performed Prostatic Artery Embolization—a state-of-the-art, image-guided procedure that selectively blocks the arteries supplying blood to the prostate, leading to gradual shrinkage and symptom relief. The treatment is performed via a small puncture in the groin or wrist under local anesthesia, without the need for general anesthesia or surgical cuts.

“Both patients had prostates measuring over 200 grams and were unwilling to undergo major surgery. Following PAE, they showed remarkable symptomatic improvement and resumed daily activities within days,” said Dr. Charudutt Sambhaji.

Compared to TURP, Prostatic Artery Embolization offers key advantages:

– Minimally invasive

Performed under local anesthesia

– Minimal risk of bleeding

– Preservation of sexual and urinary function

– Short hospital stay and rapid recovery

One of the treated patients, a 72-year-old gentleman, shared his experience over a follow-up telephonic conversation: “Within seven days, I was back to my normal routine. I could pass urine easily for the first time in years. I’m completely relieved, and there’s no more sense of incomplete bladder emptying. This treatment changed my life without any surgery.”

Prostatic Artery Embolization is an emerging interventional radiology solution with growing global acceptance. The success of these two challenging cases positions Manipal Hospital, Goa, as a leader in offering advanced, non-surgical solutions for even the most complex urological conditions.